Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Systematics, Phylogeny and Evolution".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 45689

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Guest Editor
Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Interests: fossil insects; amber research; Mesozoic insects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insect fossils provide critical insights into the evolution of insects. In geological history, numerous insect fossils have been discovered from the Carboniferous to the Quaternary. They are either extinct groups, ancestors of related extant insects, or existing species, reflecting insect evolution and environmental and paleoclimate changes. This Special Issue focuses on different geological ages, e.g., Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary, with at least one paper on each period aiming at a better understanding beyond the tip of the iceberg that is insect evolution.

Prof. Dr. Diying Huang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fossil insects
  • amber
  • Paleozoic
  • Mesozoic
  • Cenozoic

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 14058 KiB  
Article
Sinoagetopanorpidae fam. nov., a New Family of Scorpionflies (Insecta, Mecoptera) from the Guadalupian of South China
by Xinneng Lian, Chenyang Cai and Diying Huang
Insects 2023, 14(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14010096 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2410
Abstract
Mecoptera was in great abundance in the Permian, but little is known from China. A new family, Sinoagetopanorpidae fam. nov., is described and illustrated from the upper Guadalupian Yinping Formation at Yinping Mountain, Chaohu City, Anhui Province, China. Sinoagetopaorpa permiana Lin, Nel and [...] Read more.
Mecoptera was in great abundance in the Permian, but little is known from China. A new family, Sinoagetopanorpidae fam. nov., is described and illustrated from the upper Guadalupian Yinping Formation at Yinping Mountain, Chaohu City, Anhui Province, China. Sinoagetopaorpa permiana Lin, Nel and Huang, 2010 was previously attributed to Permochoristidae and now is revised as the type species of Sinoagetopanorpidae fam. nov. Three genera (two new genera) and ten new species of this new family are described and illustrated: Sinoagetopanorpa permiana Lin, Nel and Huang, 2010, S. nigra sp. nov., S. rotunda sp. nov., S. lini sp. nov., S. minuta sp. nov., S. elegans sp. nov., S. grimaldii sp. nov., S. magna sp. nov., Raragetopanorpa zhangi gen. et sp. nov., Permoagetopanorpa yinpingensis gen. et sp. nov. and P. incompleta sp. nov. Some isolated hind wings are described and illustrated, although it is difficult to assign them to any particular species. As a dominant mecopteran lineage in the Yinping Formation, Sinoagetopanorpidae represents an endemic group that might have independently evolved on the Yangtze Platform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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14 pages, 20420 KiB  
Article
The First Representative of the Roachoid Family Spiloblattinidae (Insecta, Dictyoptera) from the Late Pennsylvanian of the Iberian Peninsula
by André Nel, Artai A. Santos, Antonio Hernández-Orúe, Torsten Wappler, José B. Diez and Enrique Peñalver
Insects 2022, 13(9), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090828 - 12 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1907
Abstract
Sysciophlebia ‘sp. form Villablino’, the first Iberian representative of the Palaeozoic–Early Mesozoic family Spiloblattinidae, is described and illustrated. Its forewing colour pattern is strongly similar to those of the Gzhelian–early-middle Asselian species Sysciophlebia euglyptica, Sysciophlebia ilfeldensis, Sysciophlebia rubida, and ‘ [...] Read more.
Sysciophlebia ‘sp. form Villablino’, the first Iberian representative of the Palaeozoic–Early Mesozoic family Spiloblattinidae, is described and illustrated. Its forewing colour pattern is strongly similar to those of the Gzhelian–early-middle Asselian species Sysciophlebia euglyptica, Sysciophlebia ilfeldensis, Sysciophlebia rubida, and ‘Sysciophlebia sp. form KBQ’, supporting the currently proposed Gzhelian age for its type locality. It supports the use of the representatives of the Spiloblattinidae for stratigraphic purposes. The diagnoses and limits of the families Subioblattidae, Phyloblattidae, Compsoblattidae, Spiloblattinidae, and of the spiloblattinid genera are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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19 pages, 3698 KiB  
Article
Genomic-Phenomic Reciprocal Illumination: Desyopone hereon gen. et sp. nov., an Exceptional Aneuretine-like Fossil Ant from Ethiopian Amber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)
by Brendon E. Boudinot, Adrian K. Richter, Jörg U. Hammel, Jacek Szwedo, Błażej Bojarski and Vincent Perrichot
Insects 2022, 13(9), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090796 - 1 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7127
Abstract
Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphological disparification of extant lineages. While fossils cannot be sequenced, phenome-scale data may be generated using micro-computed tomography (µ-CT), thus revealing hidden structures and internal anatomy, when preserved. Here, we adduce the male [...] Read more.
Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphological disparification of extant lineages. While fossils cannot be sequenced, phenome-scale data may be generated using micro-computed tomography (µ-CT), thus revealing hidden structures and internal anatomy, when preserved. Here, we adduce the male caste of a new fossil ant species from Miocene Ethiopian amber that resembles members of the Aneuretinae, matching the operational definition of the subfamily. Through the use of synchrotron radiation for µ-CT, we critically test the aneuretine-identity hypothesis. Our results indicate that the new fossils do not belong to the Aneuretinae, but rather the Ponerini (Ponerinae). Informed by recent phylogenomic studies, we were able to place the fossils close to the extant genus Cryptopone based on logical character analysis, with the two uniquely sharing absence of the subpetiolar process among all ponerine genera. Consequently, we: (1) revise the male-based key to the global ant subfamilies; (2) revise the definitions of Aneuretinae, Ponerinae, Platythyreini, and Ponerini; (3) discuss the evolution of ant mandibles; and (4) describe the fossils as †Desyopone hereon gen. et sp. nov. Our study highlights the value of males for ant systematics and the tremendous potential of phenomic imaging technologies for the study of ant evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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13 pages, 3315 KiB  
Article
A New Genus of Spittlebugs (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) from the Eocene of Central Tibetan Plateau
by Xiao-Ting Xu, Jacek Szwedo, Di-Ying Huang, Wei-Yu-Dong Deng, Martyna Obroślak, Fei-Xiang Wu and Tao Su
Insects 2022, 13(9), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090770 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6372
Abstract
The superfamily Cercopoidea is commonly named as “spittlebugs”, as its nymphs produce a spittle mass to protect themselves. Cosmoscartini (Cercopoidea: Cercopidae) is a large and brightly colored Old World tropical tribe, including 11 genera. A new genus Nangamostethos gen. nov. (type species: Nangamostethos [...] Read more.
The superfamily Cercopoidea is commonly named as “spittlebugs”, as its nymphs produce a spittle mass to protect themselves. Cosmoscartini (Cercopoidea: Cercopidae) is a large and brightly colored Old World tropical tribe, including 11 genera. A new genus Nangamostethos gen. nov. (type species: Nangamostethostibetense sp. nov.) of Cosmoscartini is described from Niubao Formation, the late Eocene of central Tibetan Plateau (TP), China. Its placement is ensured by comparison with all the extant genera of the tribe Cosmoscartini. The new fossil represents one of few fossil Cercopidae species described from Asia. It is likely that Nangamostethos was extinct from the TP due to the regional aridification and an overturn of plant taxa in the late Paleogene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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23 pages, 7301 KiB  
Article
Predators or Herbivores: Cockroaches of Manipulatoridae Revisited with a New Genus from Cretaceous Myanmar Amber (Dictyoptera: Blattaria: Corydioidea)
by Xinran Li and Diying Huang
Insects 2022, 13(8), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080732 - 15 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4753
Abstract
Manipulator modificaputis Vršanský and Bechly, 2015 (Manipulatoridae, Corydioidea) is a purported predatory cockroach from Cretaceous Myanmar amber, based on a single male. It is distinctive by the nimble head, elongate pronotum and legs, and particularly by the extraordinarily long maxillary palpi. In the [...] Read more.
Manipulator modificaputis Vršanský and Bechly, 2015 (Manipulatoridae, Corydioidea) is a purported predatory cockroach from Cretaceous Myanmar amber, based on a single male. It is distinctive by the nimble head, elongate pronotum and legs, and particularly by the extraordinarily long maxillary palpi. In the present study, we redescribe Manipulator modificaputis based on six new fossils including males and females, and comment on the original description. The closely related Manipulatoides obscura gen. & sp. nov. is proposed on the basis of five fossils, including males and females. It differs from Manipulator in weaker spination of the legs, including the type-C forefemoral spination instead of the type-A of Manipulator. Some undetermined adults and nymphs are also described. We discuss the ethology of Manipulatoridae and speculate that they might feed on flowers. They are unlikely to be specialized predators since they lack necessary weaponry for capturing prey; in contrast, their unique morphotype appears to be suitable for efficient foraging and locomotion amid flowering twigs. The possibility of being kleptoparasites of the spider-web is also discussed. In addition, regenerated four-segmented tarsi are found from the new species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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11 pages, 2781 KiB  
Article
New Cretaceous Bugs from Northeastern China Imply the Systematic Position of Pachymeridiidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)
by Rui Dai, Sile Du, Dong Ren and Yunzhi Yao
Insects 2022, 13(8), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080689 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2601
Abstract
Varicapitatus sinuolatus gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Yixian Formation of Northeastern China. Based on the new specimens, this study discusses the morphological characteristics and taxonomic position of Pachymeridiidae: Pachymeridiidae belongs to Pentatomomorpha and is more closely related to Lygaeoidea. In [...] Read more.
Varicapitatus sinuolatus gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Yixian Formation of Northeastern China. Based on the new specimens, this study discusses the morphological characteristics and taxonomic position of Pachymeridiidae: Pachymeridiidae belongs to Pentatomomorpha and is more closely related to Lygaeoidea. In Heteroptera, the costal fracture of the forewing is a homoplastic characteristic, already evolved independently several times among most taxa before the Early Cretaceous. The pulvillus under the claw in Pentatomomorpha is also a homoplastic characteristic. In Pachymeridiidae, the forewing costal fracture and absence of pulvillus can be recognized as an independent evolution or convergence, implying that pachymeridiids may have different flight and crawling behaviors distinct from other Pentatomomorpha groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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11 pages, 3297 KiB  
Article
The Oldest Representatives of Tree Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae; Oecanthinae) from Northern Myanmar
by Wei Yuan, Cheng-Jie Zheng, Yan-Na Zheng, Li-Bin Ma and Jun-Jie Gu
Insects 2022, 13(7), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070619 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2372
Abstract
The abundance of insects in Burmese amber illustrates a highly diverse insect community of the mid-Cretaceous, but the records of crickets are relatively rare. Here, we erect two new genera with two new species, Birmanioecanthus haplostichus gen. et sp. nov. and Apiculatus cretaceus [...] Read more.
The abundance of insects in Burmese amber illustrates a highly diverse insect community of the mid-Cretaceous, but the records of crickets are relatively rare. Here, we erect two new genera with two new species, Birmanioecanthus haplostichus gen. et sp. nov. and Apiculatus cretaceus gen. et sp. nov., based on two new specimens from northern Myanmar amber. These new species can be assigned to the subfamily Oecanthinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) by their prognathous head, slender body and metatibiae, and protibiae with large tympana. These new findings are the first and earliest fossil record of tree crickets and shed light on the evolution of Oecanithinae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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10 pages, 2174 KiB  
Communication
The Earliest Corotocini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from Dominican Amber, with Remarks on Post-Imaginal Growth Influence on Termitophile Taxonomy
by Bruno Zilberman, Zi-Wei Yin and Chen-Yang Cai
Insects 2022, 13(7), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070614 - 8 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2321
Abstract
Pareburniola dominicana Zilberman, Yin & Cai gen. et. sp. nov. is the very first fossil record of the tribe Corotocini, reported from Miocene Dominican Republic amber. The new species, which is based on a stenogastric individual, is described and illustrated and is included [...] Read more.
Pareburniola dominicana Zilberman, Yin & Cai gen. et. sp. nov. is the very first fossil record of the tribe Corotocini, reported from Miocene Dominican Republic amber. The new species, which is based on a stenogastric individual, is described and illustrated and is included in the subtribe Corotocina due to the combination of a tarsal formula 4-4-4, an elongated gula, a developed labial palp, a reduced fourth palpomere, separated metacoxae and a glandular structure on the posterior region of the head. Since the taxon belongs to the physogastric tribe Corotocini, which presents post-imaginal growth, this phenomenon is herein discussed, and its current knowledge is used to understand the possible outcomes during morphological changes in the fossil species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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8 pages, 1644 KiB  
Article
A New Sternorrhynchan Genus and Species from the Triassic Period of China That Is Likely Related to Protopsyllidioid (Insecta, Hemiptera)
by Diying Huang, Marina Hakim, Yanzhe Fu and André Nel
Insects 2022, 13(7), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070592 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1840
Abstract
Triassopsyllidiida pectinata gen. et sp. nov. is described from the latest Middle Triassic Tongchuan biota of China and tentatively attributed to the superfamily Protopsyllidioidea. Its forewing venation is unique among this superfamily in the anteriorly pectinate vein ScP + RA and the presence [...] Read more.
Triassopsyllidiida pectinata gen. et sp. nov. is described from the latest Middle Triassic Tongchuan biota of China and tentatively attributed to the superfamily Protopsyllidioidea. Its forewing venation is unique among this superfamily in the anteriorly pectinate vein ScP + RA and the presence of a veinlet between R and M + CuA. Its exact position in this group remains uncertain, mainly because of the weak diagnostic value of the wing venation characters in these insects. The phylogenetic relationships of the Protopsyllidioidea are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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14 pages, 2928 KiB  
Article
A Chironomid Record of Early-Middle Holocene Environmental Evolution in the Darhad Basin, Northern Mongolia
by Zhenyu Ni, Enlou Zhang, Sangheon Yi, Weiwei Sun, Xianqiang Meng, Dongliang Ning and Jin Cheul Kim
Insects 2022, 13(5), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050461 - 13 May 2022
Viewed by 1899
Abstract
Under the influence of various circulation systems, the Holocene humidity conditions on the Mongolian Plateau are spatially heterogeneous and the underlying mechanism is still ambiguous. The complexity of climate change may affect the accuracy of assessing lake ecosystem evolution. In this study, based [...] Read more.
Under the influence of various circulation systems, the Holocene humidity conditions on the Mongolian Plateau are spatially heterogeneous and the underlying mechanism is still ambiguous. The complexity of climate change may affect the accuracy of assessing lake ecosystem evolution. In this study, based on the precise chronology, a chironomid assemblage sequence from the Darhad Basin in northern Mongolia is analyzed to elucidate the hydroclimate variation during the early-middle Holocene. The results show that the chironomid communities changed suddenly from littoral taxa to sublittoral/profundal taxa at about 9 cal kyr BP, reflecting an environmental transition from a river or shallow lake condition to a deep lake environment. Thereafter, most parts of the paleolake remained at a relatively high level until 4.5 cal kyr BP. This hydrological pattern resembles the typical humidity variations in the Westerlies affected regions, except that the onset of wetter conditions occurred one thousand years earlier as reflected in our results. The melting of glaciers and permafrost in the basin resulting from the early increased summer solar insolation could be a feasible explanation for these time advances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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13 pages, 2619 KiB  
Article
Two New Fossil Sawflies of Pamphiliidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) from the Mesozoic of Northeastern China
by Jialiang Zhuang, Chungkun Shih, Mei Wang and Dong Ren
Insects 2022, 13(5), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050402 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2381
Abstract
Two new species of Pamphiliidae, Scabolyda latusa sp. nov. and Scabolyda tenuis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation and the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China, respectively. A new specimen of Scabolyda orientalis Wang, Rasnitsyn, [...] Read more.
Two new species of Pamphiliidae, Scabolyda latusa sp. nov. and Scabolyda tenuis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation and the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China, respectively. A new specimen of Scabolyda orientalis Wang, Rasnitsyn, Shih and Ren, 2014 with distinct male genitalia is documented for the first time. Based on the specimens with new and distinct structures of legs, antennae, and genitalia, the morphological characters of Scabolyda are supplemented: antenna with ca. 13–14 flagellomeres; fore leg with tibia without pre-apical spur; hind leg nearly 0.6 times as long as the body, hind tarsal claw without setae and its inner tooth not developed. In addition, the tarsal claw characteristics found in the new species may suggest Scabolyda has a closer relationship with Cephalciinae, rather than with Pamphiliinae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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12 pages, 3948 KiB  
Article
New Fossil Xyelidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) from the Mesozoic of Northeastern China
by Liyang Dai, Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn, Chungkun Shih, Mei Wang and Dong Ren
Insects 2022, 13(4), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040383 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2627
Abstract
One new genus and species, Leptoxyela eximia gen. et sp. nov., and one new species, Scleroxyela cephalota sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on two well-preserved compression fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of China, [...] Read more.
One new genus and species, Leptoxyela eximia gen. et sp. nov., and one new species, Scleroxyela cephalota sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on two well-preserved compression fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of China, respectively. Leptoxyela eximia gen. et sp. nov. is placed in the tribe Angaridyelini, 1966 and Scleroxyela cephalota sp. nov. in the tribe Xyeleciini Benson, 1945; while both tribes are in the subfamily Macroxyelinae Ashmead, 1898 of Xyelidae. A key to the genera of Angaridyelini is provided. In addition, we investigated various angles between Rs+M and 1-Rs for known fossil species of Macroxyelinae, and we found the angle and the length of 1-Rs are correlated; however, we could not see any correlation between the angles and the fossil ages even within a tribe. Furthermore, based on Sc2 connected to R before Rs, the angle between Rs+M and 1-Rs, and the length of the first flagellomere, we believe that the tribe Ceroxyelini may have only one genus of Ceroxyela, and suggest that Isoxyela and Sinoxyela should be transferred to Gigantoxyelini. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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58 pages, 18188 KiB  
Article
The Diversity of Aphidlion-like Larvae over the Last 130 Million Years
by Joachim T. Haug, Simon Linhart, Gideon T. Haug, Carsten Gröhn, Christel Hoffeins, Hans-Werner Hoffeins, Patrick Müller, Thomas Weiterschan, Jörg Wunderlich and Carolin Haug
Insects 2022, 13(4), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040336 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2630
Abstract
Aphidlions are larvae of certain lacewings (Neuroptera), and more precisely larvae of the groups Chrysopidae, green lacewings, and Hemerobiidae, brown lacewings. The name ‘aphidlion’ originates from their ecological function as specialised predators of aphids. Accordingly, they also play an economic role as biological [...] Read more.
Aphidlions are larvae of certain lacewings (Neuroptera), and more precisely larvae of the groups Chrysopidae, green lacewings, and Hemerobiidae, brown lacewings. The name ‘aphidlion’ originates from their ecological function as specialised predators of aphids. Accordingly, they also play an economic role as biological pest control. Aphidlions have, mostly, elongated spindle-shaped bodies, and similarly to most lacewing larvae they are equipped with a pair of venom-injecting stylets. Fossils interpreted as aphidlions are known to be preserved in amber from the Cretaceous (130 and 100 million years ago), the Eocene (about 35 million years ago) and the Miocene (about 15 million years ago) ages. In this study, new aphidlion-like larvae are reported from Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (about 100 million years old) and Eocene Baltic amber. The shapes of head and stylets were compared between the different time slices. With the newly described fossils and specimens from the literature, a total of 361 specimens could be included in the analysis: 70 specimens from the Cretaceous, 5 from the Eocene, 3 from the Miocene, 188 extant larvae of Chrysopidae, and 95 extant larvae of Hemerobiidae. The results indicate that the diversity of head shapes remains largely unchanged over time, yet there is a certain increase in the diversity of head shapes in the larvae of Hemerobiidae. In certain other groups of Neuroptera, a distinct decrease in the diversity of head shapes in larval stages was observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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17 pages, 6058 KiB  
Article
The First Fossil Representatives of the Sawfly Genera Emphytus and Empria from the upper Miocene of France (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae)
by André Nel, Rose Marie Sammut, Meicai Wei, Gengyun Niu and Corentin Jouault
Insects 2022, 13(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020218 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2752
Abstract
Emphytusmiocenicus sp. nov., first fossil representative of this genus, is described from the upper Miocene of the diatom paleolake of Montagne d’Andance (Ardèche, France). Its placement is ensured by an in-depth comparison with all the extant and fossil genera of the subfamily [...] Read more.
Emphytusmiocenicus sp. nov., first fossil representative of this genus, is described from the upper Miocene of the diatom paleolake of Montagne d’Andance (Ardèche, France). Its placement is ensured by an in-depth comparison with all the extant and fossil genera of the subfamily Allantinae. The representatives of Emphytus are distributed in the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. Empria sammuti sp. nov., second representative of the latter genus, is described from the latest Miocene of the diatom paleolake of Sainte-Reine (Cantal, France). The placement of this new species is based on a detailed comparison with the extant genera of the tribe Empriini. The larvae of the extant Emphytus and Empria spp. are known to be phytophagous on angiosperm leaves of several families, all present as fossils in the taphocenoses of la Montagne d’Andance and Sainte-Reine. Emphytus miocenicus sp. nov. represents the oldest record of this genus and of its crown group, corroborating the estimate of a middle Eocene–middle Oligocene age for its stem group. Throughout our study, it appears that the first described fossil of the genus Empria, E. oligocaenica, from the Oligocene of Germany, needs to be revised and redescribed. It should preferably be treated until the revision as incertae sedis in Allantinae sensu lato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Insects: From Carboniferous to Quaternary)
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